Longi opens 5-GW monocrystalline PV module factory in China

Longi Solar PV module factory in China. Image by: Longi Solar.

March 11 (Renewables Now) - Longi Green Energy Technology Co Ltd (SHA:601012) has officially opened a new manufacturing base in Chuzhou, China, where it will make 5 GW of monocrystalline solar modules annually.

The Chinese manufacturer has spent a total of USD 328 million (EUR 291.9m) on the project, seeking to meet growing demand globally, it said in a press release on Friday. The announcement was made soon after it unveiled plans to build a 1-GW factory for monocrystalline solar cells in Malaysia and pledged to invest around CNY 5.18 billion (USD 770m/EUR 685m) on increasing manufacturing capabilities at three locations at home.

Construction of the production site in Anhui province, eastern China, was initiated in May last year and the first module was produced in January 2019. The first phase of the facility, of 2.5 GW, is now operating at full capacity, while the second phase, currently being commissioned, is expected to start full production soon, the Chinese firm said. Among the products Longi will produce at the new factory is its Hi-MO3 bifacial mono half-cut PERC module and other next-generation photovoltaic (PV) modules.

"In 2019, our company identified a gap between fast-growing global orders and our high-efficiency cell and module capacities. LONGi Chuzhou factory will greatly narrow this gap," said Li Wenxue, president of LONGi Solar.

The Chinese group noted it will proceed with the implementation of an earlier announced plan to lift its monocrystalline silicon ingot and wafer production capacity to 45 GW by 2020 from 15 GW at end-2017 and adapt cell and module capacities to market demand.

Veselina Petrova is one of SeeNews Renewables most experienced green energy writers. For several years she has been keeping track of game-changing events both large and small projects and across the globe.